Decorated play figures with flat spot

ABSTRACT

A toy spherical ball which has a flat spot. The flat spot causes the toy ball to move in a relatively unpredictable manner when the ball is rolled across a surface. Additionally, the flat spot may be such that the ball consistently comes to rest on the flat spot. An image may be depicted on the ball. The ball image may be located on a curved surface so that the image can be observed by a player when the ball is resting on the flat spot. Conversely, the ball image may be located on the flat spot so that the image is only revealed when the ball is rolling and not in the rest position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a toy ball which has a flat surface.

[0003] 2. Background Information

[0004] There has been marketed a number of different small toy figures that are marketed for young children. For example, Playskool has marketed a line of figures under the trademark WEEBLES. WEEBLES are small toys which have characters depicted on an outer surface of an egg shape figure. The egg shape WEEBLE characters have a weighted bottom section which allows the figures to wobble back and forth. The WEEBLE characters can be sold with playsets such as a WEEBLES farm or a WEEBLES playground.

[0005] Fisher Price has marketed small figures under the trademark LITTLE PEOPLE. The Fisher Price LITTLE PEOPLE each have a sculpted head and a torso that extend from a flat bottom surface. Human characters are painted on the outer surface of the figures. Fisher Price has also marketed a line of characters under the trademark ROLL A ROUNDS. Each ROLL A ROUNDS character includes a sphere that moves within an outer housing much like a computer “mouse”.

[0006] Amtoy has marketed a line of products under the trademark MAD BALLS. The MAD BALLS were molded with the face of a cartoon monster in the outer surface of the ball. The MAD BALLS were generally tossed between participants of a game.

[0007] Parker Brothers marketed a toy under the trademark NERFULS. Each NERFUL has a ball that is located within a detachable cup. The ball has an image of a face. Each NERFUL also has a hat that can be removed from the ball.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] One embodiment of the present invention is a toy spherical ball which has a flat spot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a bottom side view of an embodiment of a toy ball of the present invention;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the toy ball;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a side view of the toy ball;

[0012]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a playset which includes the toy ball;

[0013]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another playset which includes the toy ball.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] One embodiment of the present invention is a toy spherical ball which has a flat spot. The flat spot causes the toy ball to move in a relatively unpredictable manner when the ball is rolled across a surface. Additionally, the flat spot may be such that the ball consistently comes to rest on the flat spot. An image may be depicted on the ball. The ball image may be located on a curved surface so that the image can be observed by a player when the ball is resting on the flat spot. The flat spot may provide a reference surface so that when the user places the ball on a playing surface, the image is facing the user. Alternatively, the ball image may be located on the flat spot so that the image is only revealed when the ball is rolling and not in the rest position.

[0015] Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numbers, FIGS. 1-3 show a toy ball 10 of the present invention. The toy ball 10 includes a sphere 12 which has a flat spot 14. The sphere 12 may be constructed from a rubber, a lightweight foam, a hollow high impact styrene, or other material.

[0016] The ball 10 may have an image 16. The image 16 may be molded into, painted onto, or incorporated into the ball by any means. The image 16 may be a face or other animated character. The ball image 16 may be located on a curved surface of the sphere 12 so that when the ball 10 is resting on the flat spot 14 the image 16 is facing a player(s). As an alternate embodiment, the ball image 16 may be located on the flat spot 14 so that the image 16 is hidden when the ball 10 is resting on the flat spot 14.

[0017] The ball 10 should preferably be large enough so that it cannot be swallowed by a small child. In one embodiment, the sphere 12 has a diameter that is no less than 1.5 inches in diameter.

[0018] It is desirable to provide a flat spot 14 which has a diameter that will increase the likelihood of the sphere 12 coming to rest on the surface 14 when the ball 10 is rolled. To accomplish this result it is desirable to provide a flat spot 14 diameter that is no less than 25% of the diameter of the sphere 12. In one embodiment, the sphere 12 may have a diameter of 1.8 inches and the flat spot 14 may have a diameter of 1 inch.

[0019] As an alternate embodiment, it may be desirable to have a toy ball 10 that merely utilizes the flat spot 14 as a reference surface for orienting the image 16 in view of a player. The flat spot 14 allows a player to place the toy ball on a playing surface without the ball rolling along the surface. For such an embodiment, the flat spot 14 should have a diameter that is no less than 10% of the sphere diameter.

[0020]FIG. 4 shows a playset 18 with a ball 10 that can roll along an inclined surface(s) 20 of a structure 22. The structure 22 may be constructed from a molded plastic which simulates a house. The toy ball 10 can be inserted through openings 24 in the structure 22 to initiate a rolling action of the ball 10. The ball 10 can roll down the inclined surface 20 and onto a playing surface 26. The flat spot 14 can create a relatively unpredictable movement of the ball 10. Additionally, the ball 10 may have a high likelihood of stopping on the flat spot 14. The ball 10 may also activate a device such as the door 27 of the structure 22.

[0021]FIG. 5 shows another playset 30 which includes a toy ball 10. The playset 30 may include a toy golf club 32 and a toy green 34. A player may project the toy ball 10 toward a hole 36 in the green 34 with the toy club 32. The flat spot 14 may cause the toy ball 10 to move in a non-linear path, thereby increasing the adventure of directing the ball into the hole 36.

[0022] While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art. For example, although only one flat spot 14 is shown and described, it is to be understood that the ball 10 may have more than one flat spot 14. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A toy ball, comprising: a sphere which has a flat spot.
 2. The toy ball as recited in claim 1, wherein said sphere has an image.
 3. The toy ball as recited in claim 2, wherein said image is located on a curved surface of said sphere.
 4. The toy ball as recited in claim 2, wherein said image is located on said flat spot.
 5. The toy ball as recited in claim 1, wherein said flat spot has a diameter that is at least 10% of a diameter of said sphere.
 6. The toy ball as recited in claim 1, wherein said flat spot has a diameter that is at least 25% of a diameter of said sphere.
 7. A toy game set, comprising: a structure which has an inclined surface; a sphere that can roll down said inclined surface, said sphere has a flat spot.
 8. The game set as recited in claim 7, wherein said sphere has an image.
 9. The game set as recited in claim 8, wherein said image is located on a curved surface of said sphere.
 10. The game set as recited in claim 8, wherein said image is located on said flat spot.
 11. The game set as recited in claim 7, wherein said flat spot has a diameter that is at least 10% of a diameter of said sphere.
 12. The game set as recited in claim 7, wherein said flat spot has a diameter that is at least 25% of a diameter of said sphere.
 13. A method for playing with a toy ball, comprising the step of: a) rolling a sphere that has a flat spot onto a playing surface.
 14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said sphere stops in a position wherein said flat spot rests on the playing surface.
 15. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said sphere is rolled down an inclined surface.
 16. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the rolling of said sphere is initiated by a club. 